New to Navy, ODS, Portsmouth-need any help?

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Hi there,

I've been a nurse since 2010 and graduated from University of Portland, Oregon. I worked in mental health and with the red cross for a year before applying for the Navy. 13 mos later I found myself at Officer Development School and graduated this February. I'm stationed at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth now and living in Norfolk. I wanted to offer myself as a resource to any of these topics since I felt like I was at a loss for information prior to coming in. Feel free to ask anything about the nursing, the Navy, the application process, duty stations, ODS, Norfolk, etc. Good luck to you and thank you for considering service in the US military.

thanks for the encouragement and I willl! Has anybody on here heard about the date of the first board of the year? I heard it is in October from my recruiter but he didn't give me an exact date.

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Thank you everyone for all the questions and responses; this entire thread has been so informative and invaluable!

I'm a new grad (May) with no prior nursing experience that's interested in joining the Navy but I have been having trouble contacting a medical officer recruiter (I live near Chicago, IL). I'm debating whether or not to drive an hour over to the Great Lakes Naval Station and ask to speak with a recruiter. Would that even be ideal?

I've also read that "boards" are on October 1, meaning I would have to complete my entire application within this month. Is it too late to apply?

Should I be asking for letters of recommendations (3 or 4?) to be mailed directly to me which I then hand to the recruiter? or emailed?? I'm trying to set everything up so when/if I meet with a recruiter, I can be as prepared as possible.

Any help would be appreciated!

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

Hi there, boards are usually in October-mine was two years ago. Not sure if it has changed.

I don't think driving to Great Lakes would be helpful as it is where enlisted go to train, they may not even have an officer recruiter there. When I came in, I had to have my package in by Aug. 1 or wait till next year. I don't know if that is still the case but, yes it may be. And a package where everything goes smoothly probably takes 3 months.

I would wait for Letters of Recommendations until you speak with a recruiter. They have to be dated within 6 months of your package being sent in so if you don't make it for this year then they have to be re-done for next year.

My main recommendation is to drive to your recruiter. Not all recruiting offices are officer and/or medical but they should be able to point you in the right direction. I'll see if I can find out where the medical recruiting office is in your area.

Good luck.

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Hi Sw88tpea,

Can you tell me about your housing after ODS? Do/did you live on base? Any housing information would be appreciated. Thank you.

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

Directly after ODS I did not have housing set up. I went and stayed in the Navy lodge until I found a house to rent. The hospital does not have officer housing but I believe the larger Norfolk base does. I live out in town and so do all my coworkers. My friends stationed in Europe/Japan also live off base. Cuba-there is only base, for example. Do you have more questions regarding housing at a certain base or just in general?

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

Over 18 months in and still going strong. I'm interested to hear if the news/the shutdown is impacting anyone's choice to join. I can't say how I would feel/think if I was considering joining. I'm still working at Portsmouth Naval on the Cardiac unit and plan on asking for a second tour/extending my three year contract for another duty station. Hope all is well!

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I just found out that I will be headed to Portsmouth after I graduate and pass the NCLEX! I am so excited!

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

Awesome! Let's keep in touch. Feel free to ask me anything!

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I also just found out I will be heading to Portsmouth after I graduate in December/hopefully pass the NCLEX in January! Sw88tpea, you've given awesome feedback throughout this thread...I see you had experience prior to coming in. I have prior experience as an EMT for 3 years, but not RN. How does it work in terms of finding out which ward you will be placed on? Do we have any choice in that? I'm curious because I have intentions of going CRNA and want critical care experience (specifically SICU or any type of ICU. Even ER would be right up my alley...I'm sure me and everyone else haha. Also I am very interested in deploying if the opportunity arises). Of course I will be happy wherever I end up, but if there is any chance I can make it happen I want to really make the effort. Thank you! More questions to come I'm sure...

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

You get to put your top three requests. They try to consider it but it's up to the 'needs of the navy.' No new grads go to ICU. You can request to transfer there after 12 months. Nurse grads can go to the PCU where I work which is a step down unit/CCU. You should definitely alert people to your EMT experience and it may be able to get you somewhere. It's helpful when folks have some prior healthcare experience.

When you make it known that you want CRNA, your leadership should help you get what you need for that (ie, ICU experience as soon as possible).

Portsmouth deploys to Cuba and Afghanistan. It takes time to work your way up to that. Most important to be deployment ready-have a family/pet plan if needed, etc.

Feel free to private message me, let's get in touch before you head this way.

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You get to put your top three requests. They try to consider it but it's up to the 'needs of the navy.' No new grads go to ICU. You can request to transfer there after 12 months. Nurse grads can go to the PCU where I work which is a step down unit/CCU. You should definitely alert people to your EMT experience and it may be able to get you somewhere. It's helpful when folks have some prior healthcare experience.

When you make it known that you want CRNA, your leadership should help you get what you need for that (ie, ICU experience as soon as possible).

Portsmouth deploys to Cuba and Afghanistan. It takes time to work your way up to that. Most important to be deployment ready-have a family/pet plan if needed, etc.

Feel free to private message me, let's get in touch before you head this way.

Sweetpea,

Do you have experience with deployments? If so, what was your personal experience like deploying as a Navy Nurse? Do you know if Bethesda and San Diego have particular places that they deploy to? (I'm currently a nursing student in the NCP and will be graduating in May 2014. I haven't filled out my dream sheet yet, but I think I'm putting Bethesda #1, San Diego #2, and Portsmouth #3. I'm really open to anything though! I hope I can go as many places as possible, including to the places we deploy to!)

Also, is there a unit that you would recommend a new nurse to start on? I had assumed that all new nurses would be sent to med/surg units. What do you think would offer the best experience to a new grad?

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

If you are new grad, they will most likely send you to the big three. They may start considering where you are moving from to place you d/t budget constraints. All three big bases deploy to Cuba or Afghanistan. Those are the only nursing deployments I have heard of. There are also the humanitarian deployments on the USNS Mercy or USNS Comfort but those were cancelled this year d/t budget cuts.

I do not have personal experience with deployments but I have friends that do. Feel free to private message me more questions about it.

Not all nurses have to go to med/surg. If you know you want pediatrics or mother/baby/labor and delivery, those places are often in need of nurses and new grads can go there. The idea that all new nurses 'must have med-surg experience' is not necessarily the case anymore. It depends on where you want to go and what you want to do. If you want OR for example then a surgical ward would be a good start. If you really want ICU, try for a critical care ward. Worse they can do is say no.

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